The McKendree Bearcats

Editors note: Every Wednesday and Sunday the Daily Express will introduce two schools from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the new collegiate athletics home of Truman State

McKendree University will no longer be the new kids on the block once Truman starts play in the GLVC. The Bearcats made the move from NAIA to D-II in 2010. MU participated in the American Midwest Conference in all sports besides football where they were a member of the Mid-States Football Association. Quincy was in the same from 2003-12.

McKendree is located in Lebanon, Ill., and is again a small religious school with an enrollment of around 3,500. The road trip is very manageable at 230 miles.

MU just finished serving a two-year transition period meaning that they were unable to compete in the GLVC postseason or NCAA postseason in all sports except football, cross country, men's soccer, and track and field. That probation period ended this season and the Bearcats are now a full D-II member.

The move up in competition levels has been rough on the Bearcat athletic programs.

In football they finished 3-7, which put them in a tie for sixth place with Quincy at 3-5 in the conference. MU saw marginal success in their final years at the NAIA level not posting a losing record since 2005, and twice winning nine games. The trouble started in 2010 when they left NAIA. They have only won five games since. Truman and McKendree met once on the field and that was in 2011 and Truman came away with the 25-10 victory.

On the diamond the Bearcats went 23-23 and finished fifth in the East, and if eligible would not have qualified for the GLVC tourney. Truman and McKendree have never played against each other in baseball.

The Lady 'Cats went 11-30 on the diamond and placed seventh in the East, and again would not have qualified for the conference tournament. Truman and MU have never played in softball.

On the hardcourt the Bearcats went 7-21 and just 1-17 in the stacked Eastern Division. MU had the second worst record in the GLVC in 2012-13. The Bulldogs and Bearcats have never met in hoops.

The ladies didn't fare much better as they went 8-18 overall and 3-15 in the conference.. They would not have made the GLVC tourney. The Truman ladies and McKendree have played eight times and Truman holds a 7-1 all-time lead.

The McKendree ladies saw their most success in volleyball as they went 15-16 and 9-9 in the GLVC. They missed qualifying for the conference tourney by one spot, if they would have been eligible. Truman and MU have a brief history with the Bulldogs holding the 6-2 all-time lead.

McKendree will make the trip to Stokes Stadium this time around as they will face the Bulldogs on Oct. 19. The two schools will meet Sept. 29 in volleyball, also in Kirksville.